So last year apparently I needed a new engine for my 04. Had the shop replace the 5.4 3L with a new/reman engine. 2 months later took the wife on a anniversary trip about 250 miles away. Started to hear a ticking sound when going uphill and accelerating. Sounded like lifter noise to me. Been using Amsoil full synthetic 5w20 since day 1 of new engine. When I tow my TT to the mountains/big hills/any minor elevation it gets louder. Do I need to take it back to the shop after an oil change and almost 8000 miles for adjustments to phasers or lifters? Its driving me nuts because a new engine, I don't believe, should be making any kind of racket. Idles great, plenty of power, just a ticking noise when I tow or go uphill.

 

You sure you don't have an exhaust leak?

 

Positive its not exhaust leak. Had one of those after I got the truck and replaced the exhaust manifold. Had a huge crack.

 

I would like that the shop would warranty the engine and their work for a year. Take to them and see what they say.

You can use a stethoscope to try and locate the source of the noise.

 

Most rebuilt engines have a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty. There is no adjustment of phasers or lifters on this engine. Some phaser noise during acceleration is normal, but not always noticeable. If you're worried, ask the shop that installed it to check it out.

My '04 is in the shop right now getting an engine. I bought it from Eagle Engines for $3200. I was told it's rebuilt by AER in Texas who is the same company that rebuilds the Motorcraft ones Ford sells for over $5,000. Labor to install it is about $1200 + another $500 in parts (starter, alternator, water pump...). Would you share what you paid for the engine and labor? Who was your engine rebuilt by?

 

Engine is from Jasper. Transferred all parts over to new one and has been running great except for the pinging or ticking noise that I hear when accelerating uphill. 3 yr 100K warranty. Obviously I'll see the 3 yr first. Just under 5K for the motor and about $8900 for the total cost. Things are spendy up here in the Pacific Northwest. It wasn't a rebuilt engine it was a remanned engine. Course it looked new to me when they got it in. But that still doesn't explain why I have lifter noise while accelerating uphill.

 

Are you sure its not spark knock? What octane gas are you using?

 

I had to pay a dealer $7700 for a Ford "crate/reman" motor in 2014. $5000 motor, $2100 labor (they mentioned 22 hours), $200 parts, and $400 state sales tax. It came with plugs and water pump but all other bolt on parts were from the old motor. Every time I visit this forum and read that others paid $5 to 6000 then I think I got taken by the dealer, but maybe not compared to $8900. It had 3 year/100k mile warranty so now I have 8 days left - hope I'll make it.

 

I don't know what spark knock is glc. Using 87 octane, what I'm suppose to be using as far as I know.

 

Spark knock is preignition under load due to low octane fuel or overadvanced timing. The way to check for that is run your tank down to almost empty and fill it up with the highest octane you can find.

In the old days we used to call spark knock "pinging" because that's exactly what it sounds like.

If that's what it is, you are probably going to have to live with it or use higher octane fuel. It's possible that the particular station you are getting your gas from has substandard gas. My truck pings a bit on Costco/Sam's Club/Walmart gas. Runs fine on Shell/Conoco/66, all 87 octane.

Your reman engine may have had the heads shaved as part of the rebuild, this will raise the compression ratio and can require higher octane fuel.

 

Guess I'll try the local but expensive non-ethanol station. How's the weather been in Joplin lately?

 

This has been a strange winter. One minor ice storm, one day of light snow. It's supposed to get up to 77 tomorrow.

For a test, you want high octane. Doesn't matter whether it has ethanol or not. 93 if you can find it, otherwise 92 or 91.

 

Is your truck 4WD? It is common problem for the IWE's to partially engage if there is a vacuum leak or bad check valves. This happens more often under load or accelerating due to lower engine vacuum. The sound resembles a slight grinding, 'marbles in a can' noise and may be what you're hearing. Easy to test, drive the same hill in 4WD and see if the noise disappears.

 

Funny you should mention that EBC, because I just replaced the solenoid and the hub actuators 2 weeks ago.

 

Anyone have the no power going to fuel pump on f150 i have it on my 2000 150 right now i have power to fuses and relaysbut not a drop of power going
To fuelpump???